Malawi Queens yesterday qualified for the PacificAus Netball Series semi-finals with a game to spare following a 64-49 victory over Papua New Guinea at the PacificAus Netball Series in Australia.

However, the world’s sixth-ranked Queens have to beat Samoa, who are ranked 18th on the world rankings, this afternoon to finish top of Group A and avoid a semi-final tie against Group B leaders Tonga, who have improved tremendously and recently displaced Malawi’s rivals Uganda from the seventh position.

The Malawi National Netball Team’s victory over 39th-ranked Papua New Guinea yesterday followed a 54-47 win against 19th-ranked Fiji in their opener.

Queens coach Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa said while they expect a big challenge against Samoa this afternoon, they are confident of victory after an improved performance yesterday.

She said: “Today [yesterday], we did build from where we left; the girls played well as they kept possession and had a 93 percent shooting accuracy. We tried different combinations, some of which worked.

“We have some shortfalls, yes, but we will try to work it out in our next games.”

The eight-team tournament is the Queens’ only preparatory event ahead of the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa this July. The PacificAus Series will also be used to determine the world rankings.

The competition is also a litmus test for the six new faces in the 14-player squad after four oversees professionals Mwawi Kumwenda-M’bwana, Joyce Mvula-Nyirenda, Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda and Carol Mtukule-Ngwira failed to make the trip.

In a match monitored on World Netball TV yesterday, Chawinga-Kaluwa started with an experienced line-up comprising shooter Sindi Simtowe-Msowoya, goal-attacker Jane Chimaliro, wing-attacker Shira Dimba, centre Takondwa Lwazi, wing-defender Grace Mwafulirwa-Mhango, goal-defender Martha Dambo and goalkeeper Laureen Ngwira.

She also featured some new faces in the subsequent segments as debutants, shooter Stella Matelezi and defender Chifuniro Moses, went in for Simtowe-Msowoya and Ngwira.

The up-and-coming players did not disappoint. For instance, Matelezi scored eight baskets from nine attempts, a feat that Chawinga-Kaluwa described as impressive.

“Matelezi has impressed me as she played very well, she has a bright future in Malawi Queens,” the Queens’ coach said.

But former Queens player Annie Mopiha yesterday said the team needs to pull up their socks in their next games.

“We are happy that we are winning. However, the narrow-margin victories against minnows are not good enough. We need to pull up our socks,” she said.

The semi-finals will be played on Friday before the finals on Saturday.

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